Why do you think Einstein stuck out his tongue in his most famous portrait? Many have asked that question, and there are even those that think it’s a photoshopped image.
Turns out, this really was an authentic photograph and not the least bit photoshopped. So what’s the back story of this portrait?
What happened was, Albert Einstein, his wife, and Aydelotte was on their way out of an award ceremony for Einstein. Even though Einstein was in the car and read to go, the reporters and photographers kept badgering him. The reporters tried to stall Einstein, and then Einstein shouted “that’s enough, that’s enough!” But the kept on asking questions and the photographers kept on taking photos of him and his party. When a reporter asked him to smile and pose for a picture, he’s had enough and mockingly stuck out his tongue. It was then that Arthur Sasse had the opportunity to immortalize the moment.
Nevertheless, Einstein was very fond of this photograph. He cropped himself out of the 3-person shot, and printed a number of the portrait to his friends.
